Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: Coterie Theatre: Winter 2010

    Like most people, my children and I have bad days.  Fortunately, most of those days are simply made up of one too many inconveniences just like in Judith Viorst’s story Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.  This funny book tells the story of young Alexander’s day full of all sorts of mishaps that make him declare he’s moving to Australia. 

    If you like the book, you’ll likely be a fan of Coterie Theatre’s production of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day-The Musical.  My daughter and I had the privilege of going to the show over the weekend. 

    The musical stayed true to the book with all the accidents, sibling arguments, and school trouble.  Some fun additions at both the beginning and end of the musical are nice surprises.  The song If I Were in Charge of The World is a tune certain to make children think about what they’d like to do if they were in charge of the world.

    My six year old definitely enjoyed her time at the show.  Her favorite parts were the school scenes.  Trouble with friends and classroom challenges were both funny and easily relatable for the school-age crowd.  She also had a good time chiming in with the audience each time Alexander declared that he was having a “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.”

     This was my first show at the Coterie and I enjoyed the short show time of about an hour because my daughter stayed focused through the entire production and never once asked when it would end.   We both enjoyed the time just before the show when the actors came out to get the crowd excited.  Though we sat in chairs, I know my daughter would have been more than happy to sit on the floor where the majority of children sat.  The view was certainly good!

    The only questionable part of the show for me came with a scene where Alexander is dressing and the audience purposely catches a glimpse of his superhero underwear.  Of course, this made the children laugh and was done in a comical fashion. 

    Coterie Theatre family productions are designed for the five and older crowd.  I’d say that’s a good guide, though I have no doubt my four year old would have loved every minute of the show.

    Our time at the Coterie was definitely time well spent.  The trip to the candy store moments after the show only sweetened the deal.  We’ll definitely be back for another family production! 

    Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day-The Musical runs through December 31.  Check www.coterietheatre.org for dates and times. The theatre is located in Crown Center on level 1. Shows have been selling out, so be sure to call ahead.  Seating is on a first come first serve basis and begins a half hour before show time. 

    Have you taken your children to see any live productions lately?  What has been your favorite Kansas City theatre experience as a family?

    Interested in knowing what other shows are going on this holiday season?  Head on over here at KCParent.com to find out more!